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1819–1891

THE BENCH OF BOORS

Herman Melville

In bed I muse on Tenier's boors, Embrowned and beery losels all; A wakeful brain Elaborates pain:

Within low doors the slugs of boors Laze and yawn and doze again. In dreams they doze, the drowsy boors, Their hazy hovel warm and small:

Thought's ampler bound But chill is found: Within low doors the basking boors Snugly hug the ember-mound.

Sleepless, I see the slumberous boors Their blurred eyes blink, their eyelids fall: Thought's eager sight Aches — overbright!

Within low doors the boozy boors Cat-naps take in pipe-bowl light.

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THE BENCH OF BOORS · Herman Melville · Poetry Cove